The stolen items included paintings of Princess Diana, Kate Moss, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison and Bono. Some pieces have never been traced.

The thefts were made over three decades, with the pieces stolen from British collectors, including Dire Straits’ bass guitarist John Illsley, and a German art dealer.

Poole, an acclaimed wildlife artist, owned two art galleries in the Cotswolds but they closed after he ran into financial difficulties. He also tried to take his own life, the court heard.

Image caption Poole ran two art galleries in the Cotswolds where he specialised in selling portraits of famous musicians

James Ward, prosecuting, said: “He was trusted by the wealthy individual who invested in art.

“He was trusted by the internationally acclaimed celebrities, those household names whose art estates he represented, such as Ronnie Wood, Miles Davis and the legendary John Lennon.”

‘A gambler’

He went on to dub the case The Jonathan Poole Affair after the Hollywood film The Thomas Crown Affair.

“Whilst Thomas Crown stole as a challenge, because his world had become too stiflingly safe, Jonathan Poole stole either to fund a gambling habit, or to stash away money for later life or to fund a lifestyle he couldn’t afford,” Mr Ward said.

“Although admitting to the police he was a gambler, the crown shall never know the real motive for him thieving on such a grand scale.”